A report from Wanted Analytics suggests that SEO skills and analytics understanding are top priorities for companies moving forward.

A report from Wanted Analytics found that SEO skills are among the most frequently sought by employees in a number of fields. As the web, search specifically, becomes increasingly popular, companies are actively trying to adjust their website content and other material to ensure that it stands out in search rankings.

According to Wanted, there were 24 percent more job listings with SEO knowledge and skills as a requirement in March 2012 than there were in 2011. Moreover, most of the positions were for technical or marketing capacities, which are both becoming more pervasive in non-traditional companies.

Aside from greater demand for SEO professionals, other new media marketing skills are increasingly important. For example, experience in Google Analytics and other web metrics used to assess the value of different marketing material and inform later decisions is important for businesses of all kinds.

Content analytics are largely based on the success of SEO campaigns. Finding employees who can analyze data to create valuable SEO and content marketing strategies can be difficult for some. However, turning to third-party agencies that can handle the creation and assessment of these campaigns could help organizations struggling to find the right mix in one employee.

Brafton recently reported that 70 percent of companies using some form of content marketing will outsource at least one aspect of their campaign moving forward. With 87 percent of organizations using website content to improve their web presence, turning to an agency with experience in the field may help campaigns stand out more effectively.

Joe Meloni is Brafton's former Executive News and Content Writer. He studied journalism at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has written for a number of print and web-based publications.